It can be argued that Batman features the most iconic roster of villains in comic book history. Whether they are killers in fancy costumes or metahumans that can bring Gotham City down to its knees; Batman villains are as important to his mythos as the Caped Crusader himself. So much so that they end up stealing the show from the hero that they are trying to fight or kill.
In some cases, the villains end up being the stars of Batman comics or even their own. From the towering Bane to the sympathetic Mr. Freeze, these comics can help any comic book reader get to know the criminal element of the DC Multiverse's Gotham City.
10 Batman: Arkham - The Riddler
Edward "Nygma" Nashton AKA The Riddler hasn't had the chance to get his own groundbreaking story similar to The Killing Joke. He mainly is treated as a quick threat for one or two issues, which is why his best antics were compiled into an omnibus simply titled Batman: Arkham - The Riddler.
It features his first appearance in Detective Comics #140 and several others including a semi-modern story in which Riddler turns himself into the police. For anyone interested in getting to know the best of the Riddler, this omnibus is for them.
9 City Of Bane
Overall, Tom King's Batman can be a bit divisive due to his controversial choices. For example, fans were not happy with the results of the Batman and Catwoman marriage story. However, Tom King excelled in other stories such as the City Of Bane.
From Bane taking over Gotham City to a much more personal war between him and Batman, this storyline helped turn the villain into a contender for Batman's true nemesis, rivaling the Joker.
8 Hush
When it comes to Batman's villains, the rivalries are typically in the form of the vigilante side and a villain. In Hush, the titular villain is a threat to both Batman and Bruce Wayne. It makes Hush into a more personal story for Batman.
The villain himself is cold and brutal, making for a refreshing new character at the time. Similar to the Batman: Arkham series, Hush is also a nice balance of a mystery thriller and an action-packed superhero story.
7 Batman: The Long Halloween
Jeph Loeb brought Batman back to his roots by making The Long Halloween into a detective neo-noir with Batman as the world's greatest detective. A mysterious serial killer is conducting business on holidays, leading Batman to go on a year-long investigation.
It's dark, gritty, and filled to the brim with twists and turns. Many stories and media would take inspiration from The Long Halloween, as it helped reestablish the darker Batman fans know today.
6 Forever Evil: Arkham War
With no Batman around, an all-out war breaks out when prisoners of Arkham Asylum and Blackgate prison are released. The result is two criminal armies led by Bane and Scarecrow battling for control.
There are so many villains to enjoy in Arkham War; Bane, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, Clayface, Riddler, and so much more. It's action-packed and dark, showcasing famous and obscure members of Batman's rogue gallery perfectly.
5 Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass
Most of Harley Quinn's comics embrace a wild and quirky style but Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass is very different. It shows Harleen Quinzel, AKA Harley Quinn, as a fifteen-year-old trying to survive on her own in Gotham City, telling a more grounded version of her origin story.
Breaking Glass delves more into the personal struggle of Harley as she tackles her mental health. Like many of Mariko Tamaki's work, it gives a new perspective on a character while developing them as a person.
4 Batman: Snow
One of the more underrated villain comics, this one tells the tragic origins of Mr. Freeze in comic book form. It borrows from the Mr. Freeze origin of Batman: The Animated Series and for good reason.
Batman: The Animated Series helped to forever turn Mr. Freeze into one of DC's most sympathetic villains. The influence works in the end with a strong story in Batman: Snow, in which he also faces off a young Batman.
3 Batman: Under The Red Hood
One of the most quintessential Batman stories, Batman: Under The Red Hood has Batman facing off against the enigmatic Red Hood. With the likes of Black Mask and the Joker, Under The Red Hood brings Batman into a more grounded crime thriller with a mystery to back it up.
Batman has to figure out who the Red Hood is while trying to stop him from becoming Gotham's most dangerous crime lord. There is a famous twist to the story that will not be told here; it leads to a rather emotional finale with Batman and the Red Hood.
2 The Killing Joke
At this point, The Killing Joke has been engrained into the history of the Joker. It tells a very personal story between the Joker and Batman but also gives a vague but engaging look into the villain's backstory.
Rather than a typical caper for Batman, Alan Moore made The Killing Joke into more of a character study for both the hero and villain. It is considered one of Batman's most famous comics, forever influencing the comics with events such as the Joker paralyzing Barbara Gordon. It would later be one of many comics referenced in the Batman: Arkham series.
1 Penguin: Pain And Prejudice
This story is to the Penguin what The Killing Joke is for the Joker. It tells a dark story featuring the Penguin in the present while also giving fans a new take on his origin story.
From the beautifully detailed artwork to the tragic and twisted story about Oswald Cobblepott, Pain And Prejudice did the impossible. It took a character that many fans considered to be a joke and made him into a complex villain.